Galata Tower is a fascinating building that peeps above the skyline on the European side of Istanbul. The round tower looks like it once belonged to a castle. It is a simple cylinder shape with a cone on top. However the Romanesque details give the tower a charm.
The current tower was built in 1348. It has been used for various purposes over its lifetime including fire watchtower and prison. Today, the tower is used for tourism. With a spectacular view of the city, the observation deck is definitely worth a visit. There are also a couple of restaurants and a 3D flight experience attraction.
Observation Deck
The deck is narrow as it is just the old balcony that runs around the top of the tower. It can be cold and icy in the winter. Even with those conditions the deck should be visited. The views of the city in every direction are spectacular. This is particularly true when looking across the Golden Horn (a small inlet of water from the Bosphorus separating the European side into two). The old city and Sultanahmet are spectacular when viewed from this point.
3D flight experience
We paid the extra 10 lira for the 3D helicopter attraction. I was not impressed with the ride itself, but I was impressed with some of the sights in Istanbul that I had not experienced yet. From this I started a list of places to visit next time I visit this great city.
Restaurant
There is a café on the top floor where the observation deck is. There is a fine dining restaurant on the floor below. We went to the second. It was quiet and had amazing views. Our table, tucked into one of the arched window bays, provided an amazing backdrop of the Suleiman Mosque. The food was also delicious! It is traditional Turkish food. I had lamb with dried apricots and plums on a bed of beans.
To get up to the tower, you could walk very easily. We took a funicular railway up to the top of the hill and walked back down. That’s what our tour guide suggested, and it worked out. It gave us a great stroll through another part of the city that we wouldn’t have made it to otherwise.
